Author: Stephanie Gomez

The Toronto Sun recently reported that spoof TTC fare evasion posters featuring ATU Local 113 members were being circulated online.

Any mean-spirited campaign that targets and insults Toronto’s public transit workers is inappropriate and unacceptable. ATU Local 113 members are not to blame for the TTC’s problems.

ATU Local 113 is extremely proud of its history of diversity and inclusion. These values are the foundation of solidarity, the idea that we are stronger when we work together.

In the spirit of solidarity and in celebration of Black History Month, ATU Local 113 organized a Black History Month lunch on February 19 at Mount Dennis Bus Garage. All members, regardless of racial, ethnic or cultural background gathered to recognize the contributions of the Black community to ATU Local 113 and the legacies of Black Canadians. Black history is an integral part of Canada that everyone should celebrate.

The annual lunch was organized by Brothers Mark Reed, Paul Wong and others who are passionate about the history of the Black community and their fight for equal rights.

The event also showcased the growing diversity in the workplace. ATU Local 113 is as diverse as Toronto itself. Torontonians see themselves represented in the workers that keep this city moving. That’s why ATU Local 113’s recognition and celebration of diversity will not stop after February, and rather continue all year round.

A huge thank you to Mark Reed, Paul Wong and all those that volunteered their time to make the event such a success.

ATU Local 113 is encouraging members to join the fight for public education on February 21. All four major teacher unions will strike at the same time across Ontario. That means around 200,000 education workers will be on the picket lines, impacting over 2 million students from K-12.

Join parents, students, community members and 30,000 Toronto education workers for the largest-ever picket line on the Queen’s Park lawns.

WHERE: Queen’s Park
WHEN: February 21, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Teachers stood with ATU Local 113 to protect Toronto’s public transit system from the Ford Government’s reckless TTC Subway upload that would’ve put it on the slippery slope to privatization. Now we need to show our solidarity with teachers to protect students and defend quality, well-funded public education.

Carlos Santos, President of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 113, released the following statement to media regarding Metrolinx’s latest P3 fiascos with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT being further delayed “well into 2022” and problem-plagued Alstom soon taking over Bombardier’s 30-year, $403-million maintenance contract for the LRT line:

“Make no mistake – Metrolinx is selling out the public interest in favour of its public-private-partnership contracts with big, unaccountable and profit-hungry companies. In the latest blow to Metrolinx’s failed P3 model, Torontonians have learned they must wait well into 2022 for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT to begin operating, once again delaying much-needed transit in our city.

This delay comes after reports the Eglinton Crosstown LRT is at risk of going over budget by more than $330 million. With these major financial and schedule overruns that are costing Torontonians dearly, Metrolinx needs a new approach to building, operating and maintaining transit – and that proven approach is to keep all transit public.

Along with the cost and schedule overruns, Metrolinx faces even more problems with the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. The Alstom takeover of Bombardier’s $403-million, 30-year maintenance contract for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT raises significant concerns about the French multinational Alstom’s ability to deliver maintenance services, especially given the company’s ongoing problems in Ottawa, where its Alstom Citadis Spirit trains have malfunctioned on the new Ottawa LRT system, causing major headaches for Ottawa commuters. Frustrated with Alstom’s service, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said Alstom’s reputation is in ‘tatters’ and the mayor said he is unable to recommend Alstom trains to other cities interested in the rail vehicles.

If Alstom cannot deliver on its commitment to Ottawa, how can Metrolinx trust the French multinational to properly maintain the Eglinton Crosstown LRT once its finally operational?

Torontonians deserve better from Metrolinx when it comes to public transit, such as the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Once operational, skilled and trusted TTC workers – not problem-plagued Alstom – should maintain the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. Torontonians have had enough with major cost and schedule overruns that are far too common with Metrolinx’s failed P3 model.”

The TTC is losing $73.5 million a year on fare evasion, money that is taken directly out of our public transit system. Listen to Carlos Santos, ATU Local 113 President, on Global News Radio 640 Toronto speak about the need to keep ATU Local 113 collectors in subway stations to help stop fare evasion, especially with the failed Presto system.

As Ontario’s teachers stand up to the Ford Government’s proposed cuts to education, ATU Local 113, representing Toronto’s nearly 12,000 public transit workers, joins them to protect students and defend Ontario’s publicly funded education system.

Our Sisters and Brothers from Ontario’s teachers’ unions have been in intense contract negotiations and many have now been forced to take job action by striking across the province.

Public education matters to ATU Local 113 members. Our children and grandchildren are missing school and extracurriculars due to the strikes. Ontario students, including those in special education, will be hurt by the proposed cuts to school budgets.

Teachers stood with ATU Local 113 to protect Toronto’s public transit system from the Ford Government’s reckless TTC Subway upload that would’ve put it on the slippery slope to privatization. Now we need to show our solidarity with teachers to protect students and defend quality, well-funded public education.

Members are encouraged to share the below image on Facebook and Twitter. Please visit here to learn more about Ontario’s fight for education.

Thank you for your support!

President Carlos Santos recently shared some of ATU Local 113’s 2020 priorities to improve the TTC with Sergio Mourata of OMNI TV’s Focus Portuguese. Focus Portuguese is a program that focuses on local issues from the unique perspective of the Portuguese-speaking community.

Through working together, our members have secured real change – but the fight continues for fair funding and a healthier, safer, more affordable and equitable Toronto public transit system.

• Keeping Transit Public: President Santos stressed how the PC Government’s disastrous subway upload scheme would have been the first step to privatizing the TTC Subway. ATU Local 113 is clear: Toronto’s public transit should remain owned by Torontonians and operated and maintained by the ATU Local 113’s skilled workers trusted with the work for over 100 years.
• Clean Air: President Santos raised ATU Local 113’s ongoing concerns that the TTC is not prioritizing employee health and safety. While the TTC tries to paint a rosy picture of the subway air quality, the fact is employees should never be exposed to PM 2.5 contamination.
• Integrated System: The TTC’s maintenance workers’ great work was recognized on Focus Portuguese. President Santos emphasized the importance of all future transit projects utilizing an integrated workforce to ensure the most skilled and qualified workers continue maintaining Toronto’s public transit system.
• Subway Safety: While the TTC implements an Automatic Train Control system on the Yonge-University line, President Santos communicated the importance of a signal guard and the safety it guarantees.

https://www.facebook.com/FocusPortuguese/videos/817108052086004/

ATU Local 113 is encouraging Torontonians to watch this informative video from a few years ago about the important work streetcar maintenance workers do to keep our city moving.

Toronto developed its foundation on a strong streetcar network. The red TTC streetcar is an icon of the city and it would not have run for over four decades if it were not for the skilled members of ATU Local 113’s maintenance team.

As member Al Demelo points out in the video, private contractors do whatever they can to make more money. When the TTC’s Hillcrest Complex uses private contractors for the maintenance of certain parts, they never meet ATU Local 113’s high standards of quality. Quality and public safety are always the utmost priorities for our members. “We can’t compromise safety for profit,” said ATU Local 113 member Rovel Dunn.

Several years later from when it was produced, the video is yet another reminder on how important it is to ensure all future transit projects are operated and maintained by a unified TTC workforce that has been trusted and qualified to do maintenance work safely for over 100 years.

Many thanks to all of ATU Local 113’s maintenance members for the crucial work you do to keep public transit running safely!